136 Canadian Forestry Journal. 



" The protection of our natural forests is a matter of supreme 

 importance to the whole countr>', and one that has been almost 

 neg-lected in the past. The spectacle witnessed In- the traveller 

 passing; through our unsettled forest country is sad indeed. On 

 ever>' hand he beholds the charred remains of the old time forest. 

 He sees this as he journeys through Nova Scotia, New Bruns- 

 wick, Quebec, Ontario, the Northwest Territories, and, sad to say, 

 this destruction is not least if not greatest in the giant woods of 

 the Pacific slope. Everywhere this destruction of public property 

 is before his eyes, and it is humiliating to confess, as we must do, 

 that the fires which caused this great loss were not only permitt- 

 ed but in some cases caused by our own people. The settlers m 

 these regions on the one hand laboured with all the energ}- char- 

 acteristic of the backwoods pioneer to create wealth, while on the 

 other hand they lighted the torch which resulted in greater loss 

 to the countr\- as a whole than was caused by all the conflagra- 

 tions that have ever occurred in our settled districts." 



The Forestr}^ Branch has now secured land in the vicinity of 

 Indian Head for the location of a forest nursery which will be en- 

 tirely under its control. This is described in the report of Mr. 

 Ross, the Assistant Superintendent. ]\Ir. Ross also mentions the 

 species of trees that have been found most successful as fcjlows : 



" On the whole the trees sent out have done exceedingly 

 well, and with only a few exceptions are carefully attended to. 

 In the reports of the inspectors a more detailed account will be 

 given of the success of the different varieties in each district. 

 The maple, elm. ash and willow seem to do well over the whole 

 of the West. From recent reports the cottonwood in south-east- 

 em ^Manitoba does not seem, to be entirely satisfactory, but in 

 other districts it appears to be the fastest-growing tree we have. 

 The cottonwood is a tree which seems to thrive best on the 

 heavier soils and in moist places. In south-eastern Manitoba, 

 however, the main difficulty seems to be with a rust fungus 

 which affects the foHage; but the district where this is prevalent 

 seems at present to be very limited. The cottonwood too is look- 

 ed upon with disfavour by many on account of its killing back in 

 the winter. This, however, does not seem to affect the growth 

 of the trees to any extent in the majorit}' of cases. The wet falls 



